(Family Features) In the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown in the US, outdoor and driveable destinations were in great demand by domestic travelers. Once the country reopened, Americans embraced the idea of returning to normal and started traveling as they had before the pandemic.
But travel trends into 2023 suggest something out of the ordinary when it comes to travel planning. Instead, personal interests drive decisions about where to go and what to do.
Jon Gieselman, President of Expedia Brands, said: “There has been a surge in travel to cultural hubs, a renewed interest in wellness retreats, and a surge in demand for outdoor destinations beyond beaches and mountains. What you call it, it’s not so much the new normal as people branch out into unexpected trends. ”
A closer look at these trends reveals that there is no “one size fits all” approach to travel in 2023. Insights are drawn from the company’s first-party data and custom surveys of thousands of travelers and industry experts in 17 countries. It shows that personal interests and pop culture greatly influence travel choices.
Consider the following conclusions from Expedia’s experts:
set jetter
Booking travel after bingeing on a popular series will be a serious business in 2023. Research shows that streamed movies and TV shows are now the top source of travel inspiration (40%), ahead of social media influence (31%). Additionally, small screens have come to be equated with recommendations from friends and family when it comes to travel inspiration.
In the US, more than two-thirds (68%) of travelers (68%) would consider visiting a destination after seeing it in a show or movie on a streaming platform, with a whopping 61% booking a trip. Setjetter’s top destinations include New Zealand, whose scenery is featured in his one of this year’s most epic series, followed by his resorts on beaches in the UK, Paris, New York and Hawaii.
cultural capital
Over the past few years, national parks and rural getaways have had a big moment. Now the city is undergoing a revival. Based on traveler demand, most of the destinations seeing the biggest growth are culture-rich cities, where arts and culture festivals are back in full swing. Examples include Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, World Pride in Sydney and Sakura in Tokyo. Some of the most vocal cultural capitals include:
- Scotland, Edinburgh
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Tokyo
- Dublin
- New York
- sydney
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- montreal
- Munich
- Bangkok
Visit Expedia.com or download the app for more ideas and inspiration to plan your own adventure.
